The Warner Bros.’ remake of A Star Is Born has finally started production. In 2015 when Bradley Cooper not only signed on to star, but is to make his directorial debut on the film. He quickly landed Lady Gaga as his co-star. This is the first still released.

Filming has just begun with Cooper and Miss Germanotta. Supporting cast members so far are Andrew Dice Clay and Sam Elliott, with Gaga composing and performing original songs in the film. Here’s the official synopsis;

Cooper plays Jackson Maine, a country music star who is on the brink of decline when he discovers a talented unknown named Ally (Germanotta). As the two begin a passionate love affair, Jack coaxes Ally into the spotlight, catapulting her to stardom. But as Ally’s career quickly eclipses his own, Jack finds it increasingly hard to handle his fading glory.

Every 20 years or so, A Star Is Born gets remade. It was first made in ’37 with Janet Gaynor and Fredric March, then came the ’54 remake with Judy Garland and James Mason and in ’76 the last remake, starring Kris Kristofferson and Barbra Streisand.

So we are about 20 years overdue for a new one. In 2011, Clint Eastwood was attached to direct with Beyoncé starring, but they had trouble nailing down a male lead as Leonardo DiCaprio, Christian Bale, and Tom Cruise passed in favor of other projects.

Now Cooper is producing as well as directing the film alongside Bill Gerber, Jon Peters (who produced the Streisand version), Todd Phillips, and Lynette Howell Taylor. Cooper also co-wrote the script with Eric Roth (Forrest Gump, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) and Will Fetters based on a story by William A. Wellman and Robert Carson.

Production will take place entirely in Southern California. A Star Is Born hits theaters on September 28, 2018.

Kristofferson & Streisand in the 1976 version

(via Collider)